Automobile-horn.



H. A. BRETZ.

` AUTOMOBILE HORN.

APPLICATION FILED DEC28I 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Patented Oct. 19, 1915.

H. A. BRETZ.

4AUTOMOBILE HORN.

APPLICATION FILED 05028. 1914.

Patented Oct. 19, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

liinirn sans Tar HOMER A. BRETZ, OF JACKSON, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR T0MINERALLAC ELECTRIC- COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 0FILLINOIS.

AUTOMOBILE-HORN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 19, 1915.

Application filed` December 28, 1914. Serial No. 879,267.

-of reference marked thereon, which form a ysame screws which retain thecasing t0- gether, to secure the operating parts of the horn within saidcasing in proper relative position with respect to each.

Another object of my invention is to pro'- duce a horn wherein thenumber of moving parts therein is reduced to a minimum, eliminatingbreakage and disarrangement of the parts, thusincreasing the usefulnessand life of the'horn.

Other objects and advantages will appear as I proceed with myspecification.

In the drawings: Figure 1 illustrates a longitudinal central verticalsectional view through an automobile horn made in accordance with myinvention, the plane of the section being indicated by line 1-1 of Fig.2. Fig. 2 illustrates a View in rear elevation of my improved horn. Fig.3 illustrates a transverse vertical sectional view through my improvedhorn, the plane of the section being indicated by the line 3 3 ofFig. 1. Fig. 4 illustrates a longitudinal vertical sectional Viewthrough my improved horn, the plane of the section being indicated bythe line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Referring to that embodiment of my invention as illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, 1 0 indicates a cup-like casing having an annularflange 11. Said casing is preferably made of sheet metal and is adaptedto contain an annular magnetic coil 12, a thin sheet of insulatingmaterial 13, such as fiber being interposed between the flat wall ofsaid casing and said coil. The coil 12 is retained in position withinsaid casing by means of a dished ring 14 which has a peripheral marginaledge 14a engaging and coinciding with the marginal flange of the casing10. The inner peripheral marginal edge of said dished ring is offsetfrom the plane. of the marginal edge 14a and engages with one face ofthe coil 12 14a of the ring 14, and forms the actuating member of thehorn as' a whole. Mounted concentrically upon said spring disk and eX-tending into the casing 10 is a cup-like armature 16 of a diametersubstantially equal to that of the aperture in the coil retaining ring14. The armature 16 is iXed to said spring by means of a clamping screw17, having a head 18 engaging that face of the spring disk 15 oppositethe armature 16, the purpose of which will presently appear. A- spacingwasher 19 surrounds said set screw intermediate the spring 15 and thearmature 16 and lock nuts 20 securely clamp said armature in positionrelative to said spring. Carried upon the inner end of said screw 17 butinsulated therefrom by means of asuitable bushing 22 is a contact pin23. During the operation of the horn said contact pin strikes against aspring contactI atone end to a bushing25 by means of av short screw 26.The bushing 25 is seated in a recess formed in a disk of insulatingmaterial 27 attached to the inner face of the through the disk 27 hasscrew thread en gageinent with the interior of the bushing thus securingsaid parts in proper relativerposition within the casing.- Said screw isprovided without4 the casing with a lock nut and Washer 28a yand alsoserves as a binding post for the attachment of one of the currentconducting wires.`

30 indicates an arcuate spring contact member made of thin sheet metal,which coacts with the spring contactA member 24. Said contact member 30is arranged in a plane intermediate the plane of the contact member 24and that of the spring disk 15, and is fixed at one end to a bushing 31which is seated in a recess formed in the insulation disk 27. A screw 33and' its associated nut 33a 'securely clamp said bushing to said diskand at the same time secure said contact spring in proper positionrelative to the contact spring 24. Each of said Contact members 24--30,carry coacting contact points 24a-30a respectively.

The contact member I30 is connected in circuit with the field of themagnetic coil 12 by means of a radially extending thin metallic strip(see Figs. 3 and 4) located intermediate said coil and the insulationsheet 13 on the inner face of the flatwall v of the casing. Said stripengages at its outer endwith the wiring of said coil and l at its innerendwith the clamping screw 33.

The inner end of said screw engages against the arcuate spring contactmember 30 at a -point intermediate its ends and the opposite end of saidscrew without the casing is provided 'with knurled head 34a by means ofwhich said screw may be rotated for purposes of the adjustment beforementioned.

A lock nut 34b is provided without the cas- V ing for locking said screwin the proper adjusted position. Radially opposite and in the plane ofsaid strip 35 is a similar strip 36 'which engages at one end, thewiring of the -coil 12. The opposite end of said strip is provided withan interiorly threaded boss37 which is seated in an aperture 27a formedin the insulation disk 27. A screw 38 similar to the screwf28 beforementioned,

-V extends .through the .fiat `wall. of the casing 10 and through thesaid boss 37, so as to .have threaded engagement with a nut 39 Saidscrew 38 located in the aperture 27a. is likewise lprovided without thecasing with a lock nut and washer 3 8, said screw servingvas a lbindingpost for the attachment of the other current conducting wire. It isapparent that besides performing the functions as binding posts for thehorn as a whole,

said screws also act to rigidlyvattach 'said disk 27 to the inner faceofthe flat' wall of the casing.

40 indicates adiaphragm, which is the sound producing or resonant partof the horn. Said diaphragm is made in the form of a disk of thinflexible sheet metal of the same diameteras that of the disk-like spring15 before mentioned and is spaced therefor said screw, one on each sideof said diaphragm.

45 indicates a concavo-convex, apertured front wall plate which forms aresonant chamber and which is provided with a peripheral marginal flange45"11 adapted to engage withV the peripheral margin of said diaphragm40. The edge 45"' of said marginl is upset at right angles to the planethereof and is arranged to` cover land inclose the edges of the casingflange 11, ring 14, spring disk 15, ring 41 and diaphragm 42,respectively, and said parts are all secured .in proper relativeposition by means vof screws 46 which pass through theseveral parts justmentioned (see Fig. l). The aperture in the said front wall casing isdefined by means of a short tubular extension 47, to which an amplifyingbell shaped horn member 48 is attached.

The operation of the device is as follows: Assuming that the horn as awhole is fixed to a convenient partof an automobile by means of theusual supporting bracket and is operativelyconnected through its bindingposts 28-38 respectively in an electric circuit, having the usual pushV`button switch such as is carried by automobiles at the present time.When the circuit is closed through the push button switch, he annularcoil 12 is energized through vthe s ring contact members 24-30whose'associated vcontact points 24a-30a respectively are normallyk inengagement.- When the coil is thus energized,

it will attract the armature 16 and cause the same to move toward theflat wall ofthe'casing against the restraining action ofthe spring disk15 to which it is attached. As the armature moves underl theattractionfof the coil the spring disk 15 is caused to flex in thedirection ofthe attraction until the contact pin 23 carried bytheclamping screw 1' 17 engages or strikes against thespringicontact'member 24 and moves `1 the` same outof contact with itsassociated vcontact member and closed its clamping pin 17 30. Whencontact has been thusbroken between said contact members, the coilbecomes momentarily denergized and the spring 'disk 15 being in aflexedposition tends to assume its normal position. When so re' leased fromthe attraction of the coil said spring will iex beyond its normalposition and the head 18 of the clamping screw 17 will strike againstthe set screw 42 carried by the diaphragm 40 thus acting as a hammer.When this screw is so struck, it will be forced outwardly and cause saiddiaphragm to move outwardly and set a sound wave in motion. During thistime the spring contact members have again come into contact with eachother and the circuit to the coil is completed. The armature is thenattracted and when so attracted will move as before described and breakthe con.- nection between said contact membersJ The circuit to the coilis thus successively opened and a series of vibrations is imdisk 15.which through will impart aseries of rapid vibrations to the diaphragm40, which are thrown ofi` by said diaphragm in the form of sound Waves.Different tones of the sound so produced may be had by adadjusting theVset screw 42 carried by the diaphragm 40, relative to the head 18 of theclamping screw 17, decreasing or increasing Ithe distance through whichsaid spring 15 parted tothe spring will have to flex before strikingagainst said.

screw. The tone may be varied in another manner and that is by adjustingthe spring contact member 30 toward or away from its associated springcontact means of the adjusting screw `34: before described. In thismanner the amount of iexation through which the spring disk 15.

mst move before breaking contact between f said contact members 1sregulated, causing l a fore-shortening in the a tidy, neat and'com'longer or shorter vibrations. of said disk, thus affecting the rapidityof such vibrations and consequently the sound waves caused by itscontact with the resonant diaphragm 18. vantage as the tone of the sound'produced by the horn may be varied without taking the horn apart andWithout the use of tools.

It is apparent from the foregoing description that by using anannularmagnetic coll I am able to use connectiontherewith an armaturewhich when in normal position occupies a space in the plane of said coilan with the cup-shaped armature as illustrated and described, the makeand break mechanism of the horn may be located and conlined within ,theplane of said armature. This construction is advantageous in that fulllength of the horn is permitted and act device is produced..

-With the arrangement of the parts described, by mounting said armaturein the vsaid armature to said member 23 by This adjustment is of greatad.

, and spring retaining manner described upon said spring, I am enabledto greatly reduce the number of parts used and at the same time secureall parts in the proper relative position by the same screws as are usedin securing the casing. parts together. v

While in describing my invention I have referred to certain details inconstruction and arrangement of parts, be limited thereto except as outin the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A horn comprising a cuplike casing, an annular magnetic coil in saidcasing, a flat disk spring, a cuplike armature carried by said spring,means for attaching said armature to said spring, normally engagingcontact members ixed in said casing within the planeof said armature anda resonant diaphragm adapted to be struck by said attaching means.

2. A horn 'comprising a cuplike casing, an annular magnetic coil in saidcasing, means for retaining said coil in said casing, a fiat diskspring, acuplike armature car- 'ried by said spring, means for attachingspring, normally engaging contact members fixed in said casing withinthe Lplane of said armature and a resonant diaphragm adapted to bestruck by said attaching means. 4

I 3. A horn comprising a cuplike casing, an annular magnetic coil insaid casing, a ring for retaining said coil in position therein, a flatdisk spring, a cuplike armature carried by said spring located in saidcasing in the plane may be pointed spring, a cuplike armature carried bysaid spring, means for attaching said armature to said spring, normallyengaging spring contact members fixed yin said casing and adapted `to bedisengaged by said armature means, means operable from without thecasing for regulating the distance through which the armature movesbefore said attaching means disengages said normally engagingcontact.me1nbers, and a d` resonant diaphragm adapted to be struck bysaid armature and spring attaching Ameans after said contact membershave been disengaged. l

5. horn comprising a cuplike casing, an annular magnetic coil in saidcasing, `a flat disk spring, a'cuplike armature carried by said spring,means for attaching said armature'to said spring, said means compri'singa' clamping screw having a head at one end engaging one face of saidspring I do not wish to disk, said screw extending through said disk andarmature, a spacing Washer. interposed between said spring di'skandarmature and lock nuts rigidly securing said armature to screw, a pincarried bythe `.opposite end of said screw but insulated therefrom,normally engaging spring contact members fixed in said casing andadapted to be disengaged by the insulated pin on said armature andspring attaching screw,

1 and a resonant diaphragm adapted to 'be-l struck :by said clampingscrew head.

6. A horn comprising a cuplike casing, an annular magnetic coil in'saidcasing, a ring attached to saidcasing for retaining said coil thereinand forming a part of the magnetic field of said coil, a 'fiat diskspring, a cuplike armature fixed to said spring and projecting throughsaid ring into the planev of said coil, means for attaching said armayture to said spring, normally7 engaging spring contadt members lined insaid casing v vithin the plane of said cuplike armature, and a resonantdiaphragm adapted to be struck by said attaching means.

members attached to said insulating disk, a

resonant diaphragm arranged in parallel. with said spring, and an.impact receiving" member attached to said diaphragm adapted to be struckby said attaching means,

8. A horn comprising a cuplike casing, any annular' magneticcoil'i'nsaid casing, a'ringattached to'said casing for retainingsaid fcoil therein and, forming a part of thevmagnetic ield of said coil, afiat disk-spring, a cuplike 4armature iXed to Asaid spring andprojecting through said ring into -the plane of said coil, means forattaching-'said armature to said spring, arpiniiXed'to said at 1 tachingmeans AWithin the plane ,of said armature, an insulating disk, meanssecur" ing ,said disk to said casing, Within the plane ofsaid armature,said securing means forniing binding posts for,j cu`1"rentconducting".

' Wires to saidcoil, normallyengaged spring contactmemberlsattached tosaidzinsulating disk, said contact members beingadapted to vbe engagedby' the pin. on said armature and spring attaching means, a l'resonant.diap ing, a ring engaging said annular flangeon said casing and adaptedto retain said coil in position therewith, a disk-like spring engagingat its peripheral margins with the like margin of sa id ring, a cuplikearmature, means attaching said armature l'to said spring, said armaturebeing located in the plane of said coil vand ring, an insulating.

disk attached to said casing Within the plane of said armature, said vdisk having normally engaging spring contact"members, aresonant-diaphragm member, a spacing ring separatingsaid springdisk andsaid diaphragm and engaging with the peripheral margins thereof, a concavofconvex apertured front Wall plate engaging at its peripheralmargin with the .margin of' said diaphragm and means for securing theseveral engaging marginal parts together in proper relative positions. v

l0. A device of the ykinddescribed com-n prising a cup-'like casing, anannular magnetic coil in said casing, a ring engaging said casing andadapted to retain saidcoil in position therein, a disk-like springengaging at' its peripheral margin with the' I 'like margin of saidring, a cuplike armature',

means attaching said armature to said spring, said armature beinglocated-in the planev of the coil-'and ring, an insulating diskattachedvto the .casing Within the pla-ne of said arn'lature, said diskhaving normally engaging contact members, a resonant diaphragm member, av-spacingring separating said spring disk -andlsaid diaphragm'. and

`engagingvvith the peripheralmargins therer of, a concavo-convexapertured front Wall plate engaging at its peripheralmargin 'with -themargin of said diaphragm, saidcasing,

coil, ring, armature, spring, -attac'shin means, insulating disk anddia-phragnia being coaxially .arranged .relative to' eachother,

and a plurality of clamping screws' -extend ing "throughl the several'adjacent marginal .parts .whereby all of said 'parts arelield in properrelative -position 'With respect lto' each In testimony, vthat I'claim-the" foregoing as mv'inveiition I myf signature in the presence'voftvvo Wit'nesses, this-4th day of .December-5A. ID Lf j Q 'HOMER A.BRETZ.

Witnesses TAYLOR f BROWN, JOHN H. Go'EHs'r.

